Blockbuster OnDemand
Blockbuster has upped the ante for Netflix with the introduction of the MediaPoint digital media player. Essentially, the MediaPoint box lets you rent movies online and watch them in DVD quality on your TV.
The MediaPoint box costs $99, but it includes 25 Blockbuster OnDemand Rentals. After you use the included rentals, additional rentals will start at $1.99 each.
I fail to see how this is viable competition for Netflix, which offers free streaming for a number of their titles. I suppose, however, that the availability of all titles would add some attraction, but you can always wait for the DVDs to come in the mail. Additionally, Blockbuster says that most titles are available within 30 days of the release, so you may get access to more movies faster – but you’ll pay for it.
The MediaPoint device accepts standard and HD connections, including HDMI, and requires broadband Internet access to operate. Sign up info here. Additional details can be found in the press release below.
GameFly Video Game Rentals
Gamefly is an online video game rental service and works like Netflix and Blockbuster work for DVD rentals. You pay a flat rate and can get a certain number of games delivered by mail – with no late fees or due dates.
GameFly offers four different membership plans for your convenience:
Two games out at a time $22.95/month
One game out at a time $15.95/month
Three games out at a time $29.95/month
Four games out at a time $36.95/month
You can switch your membership plan at any time by viewing My Account and selecting Change My Membership Plan. The 3-game plan and 4-game plan are displayed if you are eligible.
| Plan | Rentals/month | Price/month |
Free Trial |
Additional Perks |
| 2 Games at-a-time
Most Popular |
Unlimited
Keep as long |
$22.95 | YES
10 Days |
14 Issue Free Subscription
To Sports Illustrated or Entertainment Weekly* |
| 4 Games at-a-time | Unlimited
Keep as long |
$36.95 | YES
10 Days |
14 Issue Free Subscription
*Same as Above |
| 3 Games at-a-time | Unlimited
Keep as long |
$29.95 | YES
10 Days |
14 Issue Free Subscription
*Same as Above |
| 1 Game at-a-time | Unlimited
Keep as long |
$15.95 | YES
10 Days |
14 Issue Free Subscription
*Same as Above |
You can sign up for a free trial by clicking on the banner below.
Netflix Movie Streaming with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live
One of the recently added features for Netflix subscribers is the ability to stream movies through an Xbox 360 console. There are only two services that you need in order to activate this included service:
- An Existing Netflix Subscription (you can even try it out during a free trial)
- An Xbox Live Gold Account (the same one used to play online games)
The Xbox Live streaming functionality is surprisingly simple and straightforward. It only takes a few minutes to get up and running. You just have to log into Xbox Live and choose the Netflix tab. You’ll get a code that you enter into the Neflix.com website and then you are ready to start adding movies to your Instant Queue on Netflix.com.
Once you have movies in your Instant Queue, you can then access them via Xbox Live. The quality is quite good, even with DSL connections.
While the selection does not include the entire library of Netflix titles, there are still plenty to keep you satisfied and more are added to the live streaming selection all the time. In additions to movies, there are a ton of TV shows that are accessible for live streaming. While I enjoy and keep up with NBC’s Heroes on Netflix, my kids are happy that they can watch Hannah Montana or The Suite Life of Zack and Cody at any time.
With the addition of unlimited streaming via Xbox Live, I’m seriously wondering whether I need Dish satellite TV anymore.
Blockbuster vs. Netflix DVD Subscription Plans
Netflix is easily king of the online movie rental business even though Blockbuster continues to try to hang around. It’s rather poetic just of sorts that Blockbuster is clawing for life after enjoying the bountiful 90s as king of the brick and mortar rental business. I know that I’ve paid $5 (or more) far too many times for Blockbuster movie rentals.
When I discovered Netflix, I gleefully gave Blockbuster the cold shoulder and took my 3 (at a time) movies at $16.99 per month, which translated somewhere near 6-12 movies a month for the price of 3 Blockbuster movies at the old brick and morter store that was 8-10 miles from my house.
Blockbuster, came back into the game and entered the online movie rental business – quite a ways behind Netflix’s market share. Based on some of their prices and perks though, Blockbuster may be a better choice over Netflix for some people. Let’s take a closer look at what these two online DVD rental services offer.
Netflix Subscription Plans
Sign up for Netflix 2-Week Free Trial. Click here.
| Plan | Rentals/month | Price/month* | 2 week Free Trial |
Additional Perks: Hours Instantly on your PC |
| 3 DVDs at-a-time
Most Popular |
Unlimited | $16.99 | YES | Unlimited hours also included |
| 2 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited | $13.99 | YES | Unlimited hours also included |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Unlimited | $8.99 | YES | Unlimited hours also included |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Limit 2 per month |
$4.99 | YES | 2 hours also included |
*Plus any applicable taxes. The same applies for Blockbuster.
Blockbuster Subscription Plans
Sign up for Blockbuster 2-Week Free Trial. Click here.
| Plan | Rentals/month | Price/month | 2 week Free Trial |
Additional Perks: In-Store Exchanges |
| 3 DVDs at-a-time
Most Popular |
Unlimited | $19.99 | YES | 5 free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 3 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $34.99 | YES | Unlimited free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 3 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $15.99 | YES | $1.99 in-store movie exchanges |
| 2 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $29.99 | YES | Unlimited free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 2 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $16.99 | YES | 3 free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 2 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $13.99 | YES | $1.99 in-store movie exchanges |
| 1 DVDs at-a-time | Unlimited! | $21.99 | YES | Unlimited free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Unlimited! | $11.99 | YES | 2 free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Limit 2 per month |
$9.99 | YES | 2 free in-store exchanges per calendar month* |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Unlimited! | $8.99 | YES | $1.99 in-store movie exchanges |
| 1 DVD at-a-time | Limit 2 per month |
$3.99 | YES | $1.99 in-store movie exchanges |
*In-store exchange of online DVD rentals is good for free movie rentals and discounted game rentals only.
Comparison Considerations
As you can see, Blockbuster technically beats Netflix in price when considering DVDs coming to your house through the mail. 3 DVDs at-a-time is $16.99 at Netflix and is priced at $15.99 at Blockbuster. Both companies, however, offer some sort of additional perks, which are unique to their subscription plans.
Netflix offers online streaming of movies on your PC (now they also offer Mac). This can be a real benefit if you are comfortable watch video on your computer and have the bandwidth speed to make the feature worthwhile.
If you aren’t so inclined to watch your movies on your computer, you may like what Blockbuster offers with their in-store exchanges. By dropping off your movie at your local Blockbuster store, it allows them to check it in that much faster and ship you another movie from your Queue as soon as the next postal business day. Basically, you get access to extra rentals or “quicker” rentals by taking your DVD that you received through the mail back to a Blockbuster store. Be mindful of the fact that in-store rentals must be returned to the store where they were originally rented.
Conclusion
Blockbuster thinks it’s a better option over Netflix, while Netflix says it’s the best. I say choose what works best for you. The “perks” should make the decision easier for you depending on what you and/or your family will get the most use out of.
Pick the best bang for your own buck. If you’re not sure, sign up for both for two weeks for free and test each service to your liking and cancel the one that’s the “loser” in your opinion. Check out the free trial offers for each of the services below.
Netflix
Netflix is the top-tier online DVD rental program. With Netflix, you don’t have to worry about shipping costs for you DVDs. You simply add DVDs to your “online list” and Netflix will keep them coming to you.
Netflix has library of over 100,000 DVD titles to choose from. Once you choose your movies, Netflix will send them to you in the mail. Again, Netflix covers shipping both ways with special Netflix pre-paid envelopes. You can keep the DVDs for as long as you want.
When you’re done with your DVDs, drop them in the mail and Netflix will send your next batch as soon as they receive your returned movies.
